Beena Swapnil Kothadia is the first woman plant head of an Automotive in India. Before joining Gestamp, she was working with General Motors for 13 years and got promoted as Director Of Manufacturing (Operations), Vehicle and Engine Plant during 2018, a responsibility she continued till the global automotive player shut down their operations in India. Today as the Plant Director of Gestamp, she is empowering young women to embrace manufacturing.
Young Beena was coming back home in her luna when she started noticing the squeaking sounds coming from her vehicle. It wasn't long before the luna decided to shut down completely. Getting it to the garage was a back-breaking task, but what else can she do? As she was watching the mechanic working on her vehicle, a few taps here and a few taps there, some screws being tightened, some oil being drizzled and there it was, she could hear the engine coming to life again humming smoothly. This made the young Beena think, ” if only I knew this, I could have done this myself. Why would I need another person's assistance in something I'm humanly capable of.” And that thought, that spark was the beginning of Beena Swapnil Kothadia.
While growing up, she always wondered why boys in her school were treated in a certain way and girls in a different way, as though they were inferior to the boys. This particular thought has definitely passed through each and every woman reading this. But the only difference is that most of them chose to accept that this is how the world works. But Beena wasn't ready for that even though she too has experienced this discrimination throughout her journey.
Scripting History from an early age
Beena states with a hint of victory smile on her face, the story of how astonished her professors were when she chose Mechanical engineering. They openly asked her to rethink thoroughly because this is not a field where women thrive or so was the case until Beena Swapnil Kothadia decided to go ahead with her decision irrespective of the outcome. Yes, She started breaking stereotypes; and one should also note that this was almost 25 years ago.
Choosing to study in a male-dominated field might be much easier and accepted now. We have role models to look up to, we know the exact path to follow and most importantly the point of view and perception of the entire society on gender equality and women empowerment has changed a lot over the past decades in a positive way. But back when Kothadia set out, there was no platform for her. People were so used to the idea of seeing a woman as a doctor, a teacher or a housewife and when someone decided to show up smudged in grease; they all gasped. The preoccupied minds of society didn't make it easy for Beena. But she wasn't ready to give up and prove them right. She hustled between getting a diploma in Mechanical Engineering from MS University Vadodara with distinction, getting a job, further continuing her Bachelors in Kalinga University and post-graduation in Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies.
A Path differently chosen
Beena Kothadia started off her humble beginning as a Technical Engineer and even while she was burning up in the foundry at a 55° temperature along with all the other male employees, without any kind of special treatment, She somehow made it look easy.
Reaching up with other male employees wasn't the hard part, to earn respect and acceptance among men in a male-dominated industry is the only woman was the real challenge. And she found the key to that is hard work, sincerity and dedication. Beena says that ” just because you got a promotion doesn't mean that you will be treated as a superior by your colleagues. You have to prove to them that you've earned this. And being bossy and ordering around isn't going to help. Always be an approachable friend first. Your entire team should have the confidence in you that even if they mess up, you are there to support them and show them the right path. By their side. Not ahead, not behind just by their side to guide.”
When Beena Kothadia got promoted from being the General manager of Quality assurance to the Director of Manufacturing Operations, she admits that she wasn't welcomed with a warm smile by the other four general managers. There were even incidents when they couldn't make eye contact. It was hard for them to accept that the person who used to work on the same level is now their boss. But Beena had a strong belief in herself and her skill set as to why the company chose her for this particular role. But she didn't see that as an opportunity to boss around, She remained rooted as the same old friend to them but at the same time listened to their ideas as well as guided them and corrected them only when it was absolutely necessary. She also added how after three years at a dinner table these colleagues confessed to having a hard time accepting her as their leader, but she did a marvellous job in proving that she was the best choice and why she was the best choice!
Beena Swapnil Kothadia had won over the hearts of her colleagues by using her sharp brain and humble soul.
Daring to Dream Differently
She says she owes all this to her family. And as they say ” Behind every successful woman, there is a Man”. But in her case, she not only had one man, but an entire family. The amount of support and reassurance from her inlaws and parents has an important role in her success. Every time she was mentioning her family, Beena had this proud, Content twinkle in her eyes. Yes, it was clearly evident how important her family was to her. She also adds with a smile how being a problem-solving expert professionally has helped her to resolve household issues, and maybe all that love and support from her family is what makes her humble to everyone around her, and that includes all the 4000 employees working under her. In Beena Kothadia's eyes, they are her second family.
Now that family is growing; diversely. When Beena Kothadia joined Gestamp, there were very few female employees. And within a short time span of six months, she made that into 15%. Now they have female team leaders and efficient employees who are not just doing the clerical work but also in every part of the process. She has worked for a very long 24 years, that's nearly a quarter a century to become who she is now. She plans to pass on all that she has learned from her mentors and by herself to the upcoming generations as well. She wants to empower every woman out there who is daring to dream differently. Beena Kothadia says that the wave of change has to start from homes themselves. We have to start teaching our kids to respect each other regardless of gender norms and support them to dream big, and if this ripple of change is started from homes themselves she's pretty sure it will resonate better and deeper as they grow. So the seed has to be planted young.
While constantly adding up awards and achievements to her already glorious shelf, which consists of India's Top 25 Women Ahead (ET), The Shemaker Emerging Leader Award and much much more, Beena Kothadia always stays humble. She asks every girl out there to dream differently, dream hard, and if you are being questioned and criticised, know that you are doing something right.
“Because nobody throws a rock at a fruitless tree!”
